diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/bots/cleanbot/cleanbot_ai.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/bots/cleanbot/cleanbot_ai.dm
index 922289698d4..f8b226c48ed 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/bots/cleanbot/cleanbot_ai.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/bots/cleanbot/cleanbot_ai.dm
@@ -145,13 +145,10 @@
 		controller.clear_blackboard_key(target_key)
 		return
 	var/list/speech_list = controller.blackboard[BB_CLEANBOT_EMAGGED_PHRASES]
-	if(!length(speech_list))
-		return
-	var/mob/living/living_pawn = controller.pawn
-	if(QDELETED(living_pawn)) // pawn can be null at this point
-		controller.clear_blackboard_key(target_key)
-		return
-	living_pawn.say(pick(controller.blackboard[BB_CLEANBOT_EMAGGED_PHRASES]), forced = "ai controller")
+	if(length(speech_list))
+		var/mob/living/living_pawn = controller.pawn
+		if(!QDELETED(living_pawn)) // pawn can be null at this point
+			living_pawn.say(pick(speech_list), forced = "ai controller")
 	controller.clear_blackboard_key(target_key)
 
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/use_mob_ability/foam_area